[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 464 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 464

   Expressing the sense of Congress on international recognition of 
  Israel's Magen David Adom Society and its symbol the Red Shield of 
                                 David.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 6, 2000

  Mr. Gilman (for himself, Mr. Gejdenson, Mr. Engel, Mr. Weiner, Mr. 
  Rohrabacher, Mr. Ackerman, and Mr. Lantos) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of Congress on international recognition of 
  Israel's Magen David Adom Society and its symbol the Red Shield of 
                                 David.

Whereas Israel's Magen David Adom Society has provided emergency relief to 
        people in many countries in times of need, pain, and suffering since 
        1930, regardless of nationality or religious affiliation;
Whereas in the past year alone, the Magen David Adom Society has provided 
        invaluable services in Kosovo, Indonesia, and Kenya following the 
        bombing of the United States Embassy in Kenya, and in the wake of the 
        earthquakes that devastated Greece and Turkey;
Whereas the American Red Cross has recognized the superb and invaluable work 
        done by the Magen David Adom Society and considers the exclusion of the 
        Magen David Adom Society from the International Committee of the Red 
        Cross and Red Crescent Movement ``an injustice of the highest order'';
Whereas the American Red Cross has repeatedly urged that the International Red 
        Cross and Red Crescent Movement recognize the Magen David Adom Society 
        as a full member;
Whereas the Magen David Adom Society utilizes the Red Shield of David as its 
        emblem, in similar fashion to the utilization of the Red Cross and Red 
        Crescent by other national societies;
Whereas the Red Cross and the Red Crescent have been recognized as protected 
        symbols under the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red 
        Crescent Movement;
Whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross has ignored previous 
        requests from the United States Congress to recognize the Magen David 
        Adom Society;
Whereas the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement 
        state that it ``makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, 
        religious beliefs, class or political opinions'' and it ``may not take 
        sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a 
        political, racial, religious or ideological nature'';
Whereas although similar national organizations of Iraq, North Korea, and 
        Afghanistan are recognized as full members of the International Red 
        Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the Magen David Adom Society has been 
        denied membership since 1949; and
Whereas in fiscal year 1999 the United States Government provided $119,400,000 
        to the International Committee of the Red Cross and $7,300,000 to the 
        Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the International Committee of the Red Cross should 
        immediately recognize the Magen David Adom Society and the 
        Magen David Adom Society should be granted full membership in 
        the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 
        Movement;
            (2) the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 
        should grant full membership to the Magen David Adom Society 
        immediately following recognition by the International 
        Committee of the Red Cross of the Magen David Adom Society as a 
        full member of the International Committee of the Red Cross; 
        and
            (3) the Red Shield of David should be accorded the same 
        protections under international law as the Red Cross and the 
        Red Crescent.
                                 <all>